Canning-basket



' (NoModel.)

L. M. SHEPHERD.

GANNING BASKET. I

10.568,805. Patented 001.6,1896y tion.

UNITED STATES l PATENT rricn,

LAURA M. SHEPHERD, OE CRETE, NEBRASKA.

CAN NING`BASKET.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 568,805, dated October 6, 1896.

Application filed July 13, 1895. Serial No. 555,922. (No model.)

To all whom z5 may concern:

Be it known that I, LAURA M. SHEPHERD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crete, in the county of Saline and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Canning- Basket, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to canning-baskets, and has for its object to provide such an article of simple, inexpensive, and durable con.- struction, by means of which a series of cans or jars which are to receive the fruit may be lifted and handled while hot without danger of burning the hands, thus greatly facilitating the process of canning fruit and effecting a considerable saving in the time required.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide, in connection with such an article, a removable bottom made in one or more sections, so that a portion or all of the jars or cans may be released simultaneously from the basket without the necessity of touching said jars.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined description.

In order to accomplish the objects above enumerated, the invention consists in a canning-basket embodying certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully de-y scribed,illustrated in the drawings,and tin ally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the improved basket constructed in accordance with this inven- Eig. 2 is a plan view of the removable false bottom.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several iigures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a series of cups or receptacles, each of which is made of a form adapting it to receive a can or jar preparatory to the latter being filled with fruit. In the drawings four of such cups or receptacles are shown in a cluster, but it will be apparent that the basket as a whole may be made of any desired size and that any number of cups or receptacles may be provided, according to the desire of shown.

the manufacturer or user. These cups or receptacles may also be made of any desired material, but are preferably formed entirely from wire. Each of said cups comprises an upper ring 2, adapted to embrace the upper portion of the can or jar, and a pair of concentric rings 3, located at the base of the cup or receptacle and forming the bottom upon which the same rests.

The upper ring 2 and the lower rings 3 are connected and spaced the proper distance apart vertically by means of a series of reversely-inclining braces 4, which may be formed separately from each other and'sol- 6 5 dered or otherwise secured to said rings, or all formed from a single piece of wire bent into zigzag form and united at its angles to the upper and lower rings in the manner The cups or receptacles thus formed are assembled in a cluster and wired together at contiguous points, and also soldered in addition to such Wiring, if deemed necessary.

The lower concentric rings 3 of each and all of the cups or receptacles are spaced a slight distance apart vertically, adapting a false bottom 5, of wire to be introduced between Vthe same and held in place thereby when the basket contains jars or cans. This false bottom is also preferably made from wire, as shown in Fig. 2, and comprises several V-shaped or triangular loop-fra1nes 6, which may or may not be connected at their heel ends by means of a wire 7. The advance ends of said sections are made narrow or pointed, as shown, for facilitating their insertion between the lower concentric rings of the cups or receptacles l, where they assume the position shown in Fig. l. By connecting the sections 6 by the wire 7 it will be apparent that said sections may be simultaneously withdrawn for permitting the escape of all thc cans `or jars at one and the same time. If desired, however, said sections may be left disconnected, so that a portion of said cans or jars may be released without affecting the others.

S designates a pair of bails or handles which are formed, preferably, from comparatively stout wire and located at opposite sides or ends of the basket, said bails or handles being wired, soldered, or otherwise secured to IOO the cluster of cups or receptacles and projecting upwardly above the plane of the upper rings 2 in such manner as to be conveniently grasped by the hands.

In use the cans or jars are first rinsed out with hot water and placed one in each cup or receptacle of the basket. The latter is then placed in a pan or tray, upon which has previously been arranged a cloth soaked with hot water. The basket, together with the pan or tray and cloth, is now placed upon the stove in proximity to the kettle of boiling fruit. The steam and heat from the cloth will new expand the glass jars evenly and uniformly, thereby preventing fracture of the jars as the boiling` fruit is poured into the same. After the jars are filled the tops are applied tothem and the basket is lifted by the bail-handles and placed upon a suitable table, whereupon the false bottom is withdrawn in the manner above described, allowing the jars or cans to rest upon the table. The basket may now be lifted from off the cans or jars, leaving the same upon the table, after which the bottom may be re placed and fresh cans or jars introduced into the cups or receptacles and the operation repeated.

The device is very simple in construction, may be'made in any size, be supplied with any number-of cups or receptacles, will effect a great saving in time in the process of canning fruit, and will enable the jars or cans to be handled with perfect freedom without subjecting the hands to the lia-bility of being burned or injured. The device may be used either with or without the tray referred to, as desired.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. The herein-described eanningbasket, comprising a receptacle formed from a series of' rings, having their centers in alinement and interconnected by suitable braces, a bail or handle attached to said receptacle, and a removable false bottom inserted between the lower rings forming the bottom of said receptacle, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. The herein-described canning-basket, consisting of a receptacle formed entirelyfrom wire and comprising in its construction, a series of rings having their centers in alinement, reversely-inclining braces connecting said rings and spacing the same at suitable distances apart, a bail or handle attached to said receptacle, and a removable false bottom also composed of wire and adapted to be introduced between spaced rings forming the base of said cup or receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

The herein-deseribed canning-basket comprising a series of receptacles assembled in a cluster and suitably connected, each of said cups or receptacles being formed to re* eeive a can or jar and having its base formed by apairof rings having their eentersin alinement and spaced apart vertically, a removable false bottom common to two or more of said receptacles and adapted to be inserted between the baserin gs thereof, and one or more bails or handles attached to said cluster, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LAURA M. SHEPHERD.

ivitnesses:

M. II. FLEMING, A. F. SHEPHERD. 

